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Everyone should remember to watch for when Earl seems to ask a quesiton out of the blue like... "Is there anyone out there that is still strictly SD?". At the time I remember thinking he might get a couple of people to admit they did

I was thinking the same thing, given the HD resolution LEDs on the front panel.

Earl would propbably know better. The first look said there's no plans to allow this, but it seems to me that's exactly how this was designed. If you get HD then CIG lights the channels up. If your an SD user CIG greys them out. Makes sense for tech support and software too.

Everyone should remember to watch for when Earl seems to ask a quesiton out of the blue like... "Is there anyone out there that is still strictly SD?". At the time I remember thinking he might get a couple of people to admit they did

They said NO it cannot be upgraded to HD. The thing I am curious about is the price. Is the R22 significantly cheaper than the HR21? Otherwise why not just get a HR21?

From the pics, it looks like it has the sam BCM4501 tuner. Now the question is what is under the heatsink? If its the same as the HR21s, then it's only a software switch. If its different, then all bets are off.

I do like the matte black, vs the fingerprint magnet gloss black.

Also have to wonder what the solution is going to be for connecting to TVs that only have RF input? Will DirecTv/installers be supplying a modulator?

Have an Error or Diagnostic code? Find out what it means and how to fix it here: Click MeHaving issues with your HD locals? Report them here: Click MeIs your receiver compatible with MRV? Check Here

From the pics, it looks like it has the sam BCM4501 tuner. Now the question is what is under the heatsink? If its the same as the HR21s, then it's only a software switch. If its different, then all bets are off.

I do like the matte black, vs the fingerprint magnet gloss black.

Also have to wonder what the solution is going to be for connecting to TVs that only have RF input? Will DirecTv/installers be supplying a modulator?

As far as HD upgradeability, what I can tell you, is that it is not "impossible" as in the R15s. This DVR is designed for markets with SD-MPEG4 locals. If the decision is made to offer an HD upgrade in the future then the hardware will allow it. It's not clear how that would go and any decision on that is a ways off.

Opinions expressed by me are my own and do not necessarily reflect
those of DBSTalk.com, DIRECTV, DISH, The Signal Group, or any other company.

They said NO it cannot be upgraded to HD. The thing I am curious about is the price. Is the R22 significantly cheaper than the HR21? Otherwise why not just get a HR21?

Seems a little curious to me too.. I mean you can go to BB or CC and get an HR21 for $199, so to me you'd have to be no higher than $99, even then, one would seriously have to think about whether or not they were going to need HD in the foreseeable future (like < 3years). But then to that, if the unit is upgradeable, what is to stop people from buying it at my assumed $99 and then "upgrading" it to HD?

And if it is the same platform and hardware restriced by software, why maintain the extra model and deal with supply, troubleshooting issues?

Everyone should remember to watch for when Earl seems to ask a quesiton out of the blue like... "Is there anyone out there that is still strictly SD?". At the time I remember thinking he might get a couple of people to admit they did

Nice job, you guys. It's a shame that it's not HD upgradable because this would be the perfect box for entry level folks looking to eventually make the jump. It would save on production costs of creating more boxes for the same customer.